All I can suggest to you is to get the item numbers they will be using for the surgery and then call medicare, give them the item numbers and ask if they are claimable. I had lap surgery done in the public system in 1999 and didn't pay a cent for it - medicare covered it all. I am having lap surgery done again in a few weeks and going private this time and medicare will cover the gap, but my private cover is 100% for hospital and theatre anyway. Good luck, I hope it all works out for you.